Leeds teacher Ann Maguire died from stab wound to neck, inquest hears

Ann Maguire.

Leeds teacher Ann Maguire died after a stab wound to her neck severed her jugular vein, an inquest heard today (Tuesday).

Mrs Maguire, 61, died a fortnight ago after she was attacked as she taught a Spanish lesson at Corpus Christi Catholic College, in Leeds, where she had worked for more than 40 years.

The opening of her inquest at Leeds Coroner’s Court today heard the mother-of-two suffered “a number of stab wounds” during the incident, which happened in front of a group of pupils on April 28.

Detective Chief Inspector Nick Wallen of West Yorkshire Police told the hearing: “A stab wound to her neck severed her jugular vein and was the fatal injury”.

He said a post-mortem examination carried out by a Home Office pathologist revealed the cause of death for Mrs Maguire, who was born in Wigan, was “shock and haemorrhage”.

The inquest was adjourned by Leeds coroner David Hinchliff pending criminal proceedings and her body was released to her family so a funeral can take place.

Tributes to the teacher have flooded in from around the world and a 100m long collection of flowers, messages, photographs and other mementos has stretched from the gates of Corpus Christi to the church next door.

She was due to retire in September and, last year, the school celebrated her 40 years of service. Head teacher Steve Mort has said she was the “mother of the school”.

Mrs Maguire lived in the Moortown area of Leeds with her husband Don, who is a landscape gardener and former teacher. She left two grown-up daughters and two nephews who she brought up as her own sons after the death of her sister nearly 30 years ago.

Mr Wallen told the inquest that emergency services were called to the school at 11.49am on April 28.

He said: “They were directed to the top of the modern languages department where paramedics initially attended to Mrs Ann Maguire, a teacher at the school who was very seriously injured indeed, having been stabbed.

“Mrs Maguire was then taken by ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary for emergency treatment and sadly did not survive her injuries and her death was pronounced at 1.10pm that day.”

He said a forensic postmortem examination of her body was carried out by Home Office pathologist Dr Brian Rogers between 7pm and 9pm that day at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield.

Mr Wallen said that now the post-mortems had been carried out, police had no further need to retain Mrs Maguire’s body and that it could be released so arrangements for a funeral could be made.

Adjourning the hearing while criminal proceedings take place, Mr Hinchliff asked police to pass on his condolences to Mrs Maguire’s family.

• A 15-year-old boy has appeared in court accused of murdering Mrs Maguire. He is remanded in custody and is due to go on trial later this year.

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